Emergency-exit.



E. H. PEABODY & W. B. TARDY.

EMERGENCY EXIT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.13. 1914.

Patented July 27, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES: Q i fl fi ew 041.44 7mm 1 COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co.,\v,\sH!NG'r0N. u. c.

E. H. PEABODY & w.- B. TARDY.

EMERGENCY EXIT.

APPLICATION FlLED JAN. 3y I914.

1,147,885. w Patented July 27, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Cm. WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNI

" s are rare ERNEST H. PEABODY AND WALTER B. TARDY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

EMERGENCY-EXIT.

Application filed January 13, 1914.

T all whom it may concern:

e it known that we, EnNns'r H. PEA- BODY, a citizen of the United States, res1ding at the city of New lork, borough of Manhattan, county of New York, State of New York, and WVALTER B. TARDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Emergency- Exits, of which the following is a description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of the specification.

This invention relates particularly to emergency exits from closed magazines or turrets of battleships, or engine or boiler rooms, cargo spaces or other compartments in vessels.

Owing to the necessities of design for steam. vessels, compartments within the hull are of necessity inclosed, or substantially inclosed, and in nearly all cases exit therefrom is either laterally into another inclosed compartment or vertically to a deck above. This arrangement of closed or substantially closed compartments makes it a far more difficult matter to make hasty exit therefrom than would be the case in an ordinary building on shore.

Referring particularly to steam vessels, it is common practice where accelerated or forced draft is used to construct the com partments containing the boilers in such manner that they are not only inclosed, but are practically air-tight when under forced draft, air being discharged into these compartments by means of blowers, which air passes from the fire-room into the furnace of the boilers, thereby accelerating the combustion of the fuel, the resulting gases (products of combustion) passing away through uptakes leading from the boilers to the stacks or funnels of the vessel. The air pressure in these compartments being greater than that of the outside atmos phere, the method employed for entrance to or exit from the said compartment is normally through a so-called air-lock, or vestibule. fitted with double doors.

Should the compartment suddenly become filled with steam, due to the giving way of a steam pipe, for instance, or should the compartment become filled with noxious gases resulting from the flare-back in the furnaces, or the giving Way of an oil fuel Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1915.

Serial No. 811,921.

connection in the room, it is a diflicult, not to say hazardous, matter for the considerable number of men at work in said compartment to get out through the air-lock (which is limited in capacity and requires that one door be closed before the other can be opened) in a sufficiently short time to avoid serious or even fatal injury.

Single unprotected emergency doors are not practicable. owing to the fact that on opening the same, the pressure in the room drives the steam or other noxious gases through the doorway, and the men are scalded or suffocated in the exit itself, before reaching a place of safety.

The object of this invention is to provide means whereby hasty exit of the men in the room is accomplished, while at the same time the steam or noxious gases are prevented from following, and those leaving the room may find their way rapidly and easily to the deck or other place of safety.

The invention will be understood by reference to the accom anying drawings.

Figure l is a vertical section of one form of the device; Fig. 2 a plan view of same; Fig. 3 a vertical section of a modified form; Fig. t a plan view of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 a vertical section of another form, and Fig. (3 a plan view of Fig. 5.

tlimilar reference numerals indicate similar parts in the general views.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 1 designates the boiler-room or compartment from which hasty exit is desired. At one side of this compartment is located a tank 2, situated below the floor of compartment 1, and of such depth that the average person when dropping into same can pass under the lower edge of the bulkhead 3, which extends below the floor st of the compartment '1. Numeral 5 designates a compartment having a floor 6 practically on the same level as the floor of compartment 1. Compartment 5 communicates with a passage or exit 7, which gives access to the deck or other portion of the vessel remote from the danger zone. A handrail 8 may be located at the inner or lower edge of the bulkhead 3, providing a convenient hold for anyone passing through the tank 2, and the handrails or ladderrounds 9 are provided, whereby the exit from this tank is easily accomplished. Other handrails 10 may also be provided to further facilitate passage from the tank into the compartment 5, and therefrom to the passage-way or exit 7. The numerals 11,

designate persons in the act of approaching the emergency exit, dropping into the tank 2, and climbing therefrom into the compartment 5. Numeral 12 is a pipe supplying water to the tank 2, 13, being the overflow therefrom. Tank 2 is filled with water to the height determined by the overflow 13, which may discharge directly into the bilge or be led to a suitable connection for discharging orerboard, and if desired, a continuous flow of water taken directly from the sea or other suitable source may be kept passing through the tank 2, maintaining the temperature therein at approximately a constant degree. In operation, should it become necessary for those in compartment 1 to make a hasty exit from said compartment, it is necessary only to jump into the tank, pass beneath the lower edge of bulkhead 3, and climb up into compartment 5 and thence to exit 7, thewater in the tank preventing any steam or noxious gases from following said persons and vitiating the atmosphere in compartment and exit "4'. It will be evident that ample space must be provided for the men to at once leave the restricted portion of the tank which communicates with compartment 1 and climb up into compartment 5, so as not to impede the exit of those immediately following them. For this reason the compartment 5 and the portion of tank 2 which communicates with same has been made considerably larger in area than the portion of tank 2 which is exposed to compartment 1. It will also be evident that should there be greater pressure in compartment 1 than that of the general atmosphere, which pressure prevails in exit 7 and compartment 5, the water will stand at a lower level on the side of the bulkhead 3 which is exposed to the compartment 1. than in the part of the tank exposed to compartment 5. Should this diiference in level be sufficient to forcethe water exposed to compartment 1 below the edge of the bulkhead 3, vapor or gas would pass under the bulkhead into compartment 5, and the perfection of the .device would be destroyed. For this reason we have carried the lower edge of the bulkhead 3 down into the tank a sufiicient distance to counteract any difference in pressure which may exist in the two compartments 1 and 5. While in the drawing only one overflow, 13, is shown in connection with the part of the tank exposed to compartment 1, other locations of same which provide for a proper adjustment of water levels at times of'emergency may be employed. While we prefer to have the tank free and open both in the part exposed to compartment 1 and compartment 5, so that free access thereto may be had at all times, any means of closing the top of'the tank may be employed which can be quickly opened in time of liquid content of the tank is dispensed with.

As in Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 1 designates the compartment from which exit is desired, 2 the tank or receptacle located below the floor of said compartment, 5 a compartment communicating with compartment 2 and connected with exit 7. 8, 9 and 10 represent handrails for facilitating the passage through compartment 2. The numerals 14 designate air-blast pipes provided with gratings 15 substantially corresponding with the floor of compartment 2. The blast pipes 14 communicate with a larger duct 16 provided with a valve or damper 17 which is controlled by lever 18, communicating with an operating mechanism 19. The blast pipe 20 communicates with the air main 16 and is also in communication with ablower not shown in the drawing, so that pipe 20 is constantly filled with air under pressure. This blower may, if desired, be the same used for supplying air for combustion to the fire-room or compartment 1. In operation, when it is desired touse the exit, the persons in compartment 1, in their passage to compartment 2 step first upon the valve-operating mechanism 19, thereby opening the damper 17, which admits air under pressure to the main 16 and then to the ducts 14, whence it is discharged violently upward through the open portion of the compartment 2, which communicates with compartment 1, thereby driving back the steam or other noxious gases, while at the same time permitting the passage of the person or persons through compartment 2 into the compartment 5, and thence to exit 7.

While we prefer to arrange the air ducts 14 discharging upwardly, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, owing to the fact that persons using the device are assisted in passing through the blast by the force of gravity when jumping from compartment 1 into compartment 2, it is entirely possible to arrange the air ducts 14 either discharging downwardly into a vestibule or laterally or in any other position which suitably projects the air blast into compartment 1, opposing and preventing the steam or noxious gases in said compartment 1 reaching compartment 5 and'exit 7 In this form of the device, should it be necessary to employ same in connection with a closed c0mpartment under pressure, an air-lock would be provided in the exit 7, which would normally remain closed, but through which the men leaving compartment 5 would find their way at leisure, being protected by the fact that the air blast prevents any steam or gas from getting into compartment 5. While an ordinary door might be used at this exit, it is preferable to use an air-lock, for the reason that same maintains the pressure in compartment 5 the same as that which normally existed in compartment 1, and thus aids the operation of the air blast in protecting the exit.

Another modification of the device is shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, in which exit from compartment 1 into compartment 5 and thence to exit 7 is gained by means of the doorway 21, which, while normally closed, in order to render compartment 1 substantially air-tight, may be opened outwardly into compartment 5. The upper portion of compartment 5 is in this case fitted with a plurality of spray nozzles 22, which in turn communicate with manifolds 23, which in turn communicate with a water supply main 24; and a quick-opening valve 25. The water main 26 communicates with a suitable pumping apparatus not shown in the drawing, and is filled with water under pressure. The drain 27 is so arranged as to remove water which may be discharged into compartment 5. In operation, the door 21 on being opened operates through a mechanism 28 communicat ing with revolving hinge-bar 29 to open the valve 25, which immediately supplies the water main 24 with a large amount of water delivered through the pipe 26. The pipe 24 discharges the water into manifolds 23, which in turn liberate the water through the spray nozzles 22, immediately drenching compartment 5 with a downpour of heavy spray or rain of such quantity as to condense, cool or drive back the steam or noxious gases in compartment 1 and prevent their reaching exit 7.

The mechanism indicated by numerals 18 and 19, Figs. 3 and 4, for opening the air damper 17, and the mechanism indicated by numerals 21, 28 and 29, Figs. 5 and 6, for opening the water valve 25, are mechanical contrivances for accomplishing the desired results accompanying the operation of the device as an emergency exit. These mechanisms or mechanical movements may, if desired, be replaced by electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic or other means of accomplishing the same purpose.

WVhile intended primarily as an emergency exit from boiler rooms and other compartments of steam vessels, our invention is applicable to any situation wherein persons are suddenly exposed to danger from steam, heated gases, noxious vapors or other deleterious atmosphere and desire to secure rapid and easy passage from such danger zone to places of safety. One or more passageways, as illustrated in the drawings, may be utilized, leading from the danger zone to the main exit.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An emergency exit from a compartment and means within said exit for permitting the uninterrupted passage of persons from said compartment to the exterior thereof while at the same time preventing the passage of gas or vapor.

2; An emergency exit from a compartment of a ship or vessel and means within said exit for permitting the uninterrupted passage of persons from said compartment to the exterior thereof while at the same time preventing the passage of gas or vapor.

-3. An emergency exit from a compartment and means within said exit for permitting the passage of persons from the compartment to a space on the exterior thereof and at a higher level while at the same time preventing the passage of gas or vapor.

+1. An emergency exit from a compartment of a ship or vessel and means within said exit for permitting the passage of persons from the compartment to a space on the exterior thereof and at a higher level while at the sametime preventing the passage of gas or vapor.

5. An emergency exit from one compartment to another and means within said exit for permitting the uninterrupted passage of persons while at the same time preventing the passage of gas or vapor.

6. An emergency exit from one compartment of a ship or vessel to another and means within said exit for permitting the uninterrupted passage of persons while at the same time preventing the passage of gas or vapor.

7. An emergency exit from one compartment to another at a higher level and means within said exit for permitting the passage of persons while at the same time preventing the passage of gas or vapor.

8. An emergency exit from one compartment of a ship or vessel to another at a higher level and means within said exit for permitting the passage of persons while at the same time preventing the passage of gas or vapor.

9. An emergency exit from a compartment comprising a partially inclosed space communicating with said compartment and with a space or passage on the opposite side of the wall of said compartment and means for preventing gas or vapor from passing from said compartment through said par tially inclosed space to said passage while at the same time permitting persons to do so.

10. An emergency exit from a compartment of a ship or vessel comprising a partially inclosed space communicating with the said compartment and with a space or passage on the opposite side of the wall of said compartment and means for preventing gas or vapor from passing from said compartment through said partially inclosed space to said passage, while at the same time permitting persons to do so.

11. An emergency exit from a compartment comprising a partially inclosed space below the floor of said compartment, separated in its upper portion by the wall of said compartment, one portion communicating with said compartment and the other portion communicating with a space or passage on the opposite side of said wall, and means for preventing gas or vapor from passing from said compartment through said partially inclosed space to said passage while at the same time permitting persons to do so.

12. An emergency exit from a compartment comprising a partially inclosed space communicating with said compartment and with a space or passage on the opposite side of the wall of said compartment and means for maintaining a fluid substance in said partially inclosed space to exclude gas or vapor therefrom while permitting the passage of persons therethrough.

13. An emergency exit from a compartment comprising a partially inclosed space communicating with said compartment, and with a space or passage on the opposite side of the wall of said compartment, and meansfor maintaining water in said partially i11- closed space to exclude gas or vapor therefrom while permitting the passage of persons therethrough.

14:. An emergency exit consisting of a partially inclosed space, communicating with a compartment and a space or passage otherwise separated from said compartment and means for preventing gas or vapor from passing from said compartment through said partially inclosed space to said space or passage while at the same time permitting persons to do so.

15. An emergency exit from a compartment comprising a tank communicating with said compartment and situated substantially below the floor and extending laterally beyond the wall thereof, a substantially vertical partition in the upper portion of said tank extending downward below the top thereof and ending at a point above the bottom of said tank and means within the tank for preventing gas or vapor from passing from the compartment through the tank under the partition, while permitting person to do so. i

16. An emergency exit from a compartment comprising a tank communicating with said compartment and situated substantially below the floor and extending laterally beyond the wall thereof, a substantially vertical partition in the upper portion of said tank extending downward below the top thereof and ending at a point above the bottom of said tank and means for maintaining within the tank a sufficient amount of water to submerge the partition in the upper portion of the tank.

17. In an escape the combination *ith the vertical wall separating two compartments of an exit for human beings under said wall and means to prevent gases from following a person in his escape from one compartment to the other.

18. In an escape the combination with the substantially vertical wall of a compartment of an exit for human beings through an opening in said wall and means to prevent gases from following a person in his escape from said coimiartment.

19. In an escape the combination with the vertical wall separating two compartments of an exit for human beings consisting of a tank extending under said wall and communicating with said two compartments and means to prevent gases from following a person in his escape through said tank from one compartment to the other.

20. In an escape the combination with the vertical wall separating two compartments of an exit for human beings consisting of a tank extending under said wall and communicating with said two compartments and means for maintaining fluid in said tank to prevent gases from following a person in his escape through said tank from one compartment to the other.

21. In an escape the combination with'the vertical wall separating two compartments of an exit for human beings consisting of a tank extending under said wall and communicating with said two compartments and means for maintaining water in said tank to prevent gases from following a person in his escape through said tank from one compartment to the other.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

ERNEST'H. PEABODY. WALTER B. TAR-DY, Witnesses M. E. MCNINoH, CHARLES S. JoNEs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.- 

